HTPC: Please help...

[Hlynur]

Hi guys,

I am thinking of upgrading my PC (long over due) and if I understand this correctly I can use it with a projector to produce a rather spectacular image. Problem is, I don't know computer chips from oven chips so I was hoping someone could tell me what I should be upgrading and for what, bascially

At present it is a (from my sketchy memory):

900Mhz AMD
128MB memory
28.6GB HDD
Windows 98
Some three year old graphics card (can't remember make, model, etc).
The DVD-Drive is equally as old and has a maximum of 5 hardware region changes (obviously I need unlimited)
and the fan is quite loud

Should I just bin the damn thing?

Can anybody help me with this? I'm completely lost in this strange new world, but it seems the next logical step in my DVD addiction.

Thanks in advance

[theritz]

Hi Hlynur,

Welcome to the forums

Don't bin it !!

Get an ATI Radeon card (7500 or 9000) and you'll be fine - you can unlock the DVD drive, maybe quieten it later, but it'll play DVDs fine through your projector with a custom resolution to match the panels in the PJ for a brilliant image.

Do a search here for "powerstrip" and surf the HCPC side of the forum for lots of info. Some tweaking required, but it's lots of fun !

All the best,

Sean G.


Kramer,

Move to HCPC ?

S.

[Kramer]

Moved to HCPC area - more information available here.

[Hlynur]

Thanks for the help theritz

Is it just the graphics card I need to change then? Doesn't processor speed matter?

While I'm at it: what is the difference between ATI Radeon 7500 and a 9000? Price presumably

I hadn't seen this HCPC part of the forum before (couldn't get past those projectors ) so I'll have a search through here.

Thanks again,

[petrolhead]

The 9000 is a newer card and has not fan, so qieter

You should just need a decent sound card that has S/PDIF out to feed the amp a digital signal.

The processor should be up to the job, maybe worth adding an extra 128 Meg Ram

[Hlynur]

Thanks Petrolhead!
I am having a new motherboard, 2.0GHz processor and more memory installed for a start, but I'm taking my time deciding on graphic and sound cards.

Radeon 9000 seems the front-runner, just a question of whether to get the stand or the all-in-one card. I would want to be able to watch TV on the projecter, but I'm not sure how this compares to stand-alone TV cards

For sound I just want something to feed my Yamaha VS10 the signal through the optical lead. Is Soundblaster 5.1 the best bet?

Thanks again,

Hlynur

[petrolhead]

I went for the M_Audio Revolution 7.1 sound card and have done away with my optical lead in favour or a digital. Well in fact digital was the only choice but as there is no difference then no prob.

Dont know much about the all in ones aecept they always get rave reviews.

I am just using my HTPC as a DVD player and feed a composite image from the back of my video. Very rarely use it though

[Jeff]

Originally posted by Hlynur
Thanks Petrolhead!
I am having a new motherboard, 2.0GHz processor and more memory installed for a start, but I'm taking my time deciding on graphic and sound cards.

Radeon 9000 seems the front-runner, just a question of whether to get the stand or the all-in-one card. I would want to be able to watch TV on the projecter, but I'm not sure how this compares to stand-alone TV cards

For sound I just want something to feed my Yamaha VS10 the signal through the optical lead. Is Soundblaster 5.1 the best bet?

Thanks again,

Hlynur

The Radeon 9000 isn't very good, a 9500 would be a much better choice. Also stay away from the AIW cards, if you want to feed TV through the PC go for Flyvideo2000 (see thread in this forum) and run Dcsaler.

[petrolhead]

The Radeon 9000 isn't very good

Currious why you say this. I have a HTPC with one of these and it seems great to me